Method of and means for operating electric motors



No. 62|,285. Patented Mar. I4, |899.

C. J. REED. METHOD 0F AND MEANS FOB OPERATING ELECTRIC MDTURS. (Ap 1i tio ed .T 99, 189B.) (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 62|,285. I Patented Mar. I4, |899.

' C. J. REED.

I METHOD 0F AND MEANS FUR-DPEBATING ELECTRIG IUTORS,

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IETHUD 0F AND MEANS' FDR OPERATING ELECTRIC'IIUTOBS.

(Application led July 99, 1898.)

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W/TN SSES )b l /NVENTUH Wm Mg- @MQ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES JOHN REED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR OPERATING ELECTRIC MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,285,'dated March 14, 1899.

' Application tiled July 29, 1898. Serial No. 687,170. (Nonlodel.)

To all whom, t may concern/f 3e it known that I, CHARLES JOHN REED,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new 'and' useful Improvement in Methods ot and Means for Operating Electric Motors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric motors and the operation of the same at diierent speeds.

The object of my invention is to provide a method and a means 'for economically and etliciently operating electric motors at varying speeds from a divided source of electrical en* ergy, by which I mean a source of electrical energy consisting of two or more (generally several) independent units or sources capable of being united together in series or in multiple or in multiple series and separated again at will. A number of secondary batteries of equal capacity and electromotive force, or a number of dynamos of equal capacity and electromotive force, or a number of dynamos and a number of accumulators, all of equal electromotive force and capacity, would constitute such a divided source of electrical energy. The separate units constituting the divided source need not necessarily have equal capacities provided they have equal voltage; but it is usual to have them also of equal capacity. y

In the accompanying drawingsl have shown a means for practicing my method; but any other suitable means may be employed.

Figure l is a diagram of secondary batteries, motor-coils, and a controller, the drum of the latter being developed into a plane. Figs. 2 to 5 represent, diagrammatically, as many different and successive methods of connecting a motor to a divided source of electrical energy. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a divided source of electrical energy connected to tWo motors. Fig. 7 is a front elevation, and Fig. 8 a plan view, of one form of controller adapted for use in practicing my invention. Fig.A 9 is a diagram illustrating my invention in connection with a plurality of motors each of which has a single field- Winding.

In Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, A', A2, A3, A4, A5, and AG represent secondary batteries or other independent units constituting, col? lectively, a divided source of electrical energy. B and B represent, respectively, the positive and negative brushes, B2 the commutator-cylinder, and B3 the armature of a direct-current electric motor C, and O, O2, O3, C, C, and C represent independent eldmagnet windings or coils, constituting, cole lectively, the iield-circuit. The iield-windings C', O2, O3, O4', C5, and CG are respectively connected to the terminals of the divisions A', A2, A5, `A4, A5, and A6 of the divided source of electrical energy in such a manner as to produce the desired magnetic fluxes through the iield-magnet poles and the armature. I am evidently not limited to the arrangement shown, but may arrange the several coils to produce any other number of magnetic poles either inone or a plurality of motors.

Referring noW particularly to Fig. l, a ct are the terminals of a line-circuit in the form of contact-lingers, and b h are contact-iingers connected, 1'espectively,with the motorbrushes B and B'. The terminals of the fieldcoils O' to (1G are respectively connected to fingers c to c6, and the terminals ot' the secondary-battery cells A to AG are respectively connected to lingers a' to a6. The several fingers c to c6 are shown as in contact With the lingers a to a6, and so far as the operation of the motor is concerned either of -these sets of iingers Would be sufficient. Theptwo sets are useful, however, in order that they may be separated to disconnect the field-coils from the battery-cells when it is desired to charge the latter.

The controller-drum D is shown as pro vided With nine longitudinally-arranged sets of contact plates or strips. rlhe set marked o has plates in position to respectively engage tingers d to d6, and each of sets lto 4E and la to 4 has plates corresponding to tingers ZJ and b and a to a6. The plates of each set are electrically connected, as indicated in the drawings.

, Referringnow to Figs. 7 and 8, the con-v troller drum-shaft D is shown as provided With the usual disk or plate E, having notches corresponding to the several sets of contactplates, with which cooperates a roller c on a holding-pawl c. The shaft D is also provided near each end with a disk or ring` F,

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having a notch F'. Two arms G are pivotally mcunted at their rear ends upon a rod g, which is supported by two standards g' or by the ends of the controller-frame, or by both. The front ends of arms G are connected by a rod g2, from which depends either a 'single plate or strip of insulating material or a series of strips H, corresponding in width and position to the several lingers c' to c6.

In Figs. Tand 8 I have shown supplemental fingers ax, that constitute parts of the iingers a' to a both electrically and mechanically and are so arranged that they will be separated from iingers c' to c by the strips Il when the fingers a' to aG are in contact with the set of strips marked o. Each strip I-I is provided with a metal band L for making electrical connection between the corresponding fingers when the arms G are moved outward against the action of the springs I and K by the rings F acting against the rollersf on the arms G.

When the controller is in the position indicated in Figs. 7 and S, the battery-cells are so connected as to be charged in series from any suitable source of electrical energy. If the drum be rotated in a clockwise direction, the field-coils will be iirst connected with the battery-cells, so as to enable the field to build u p before the armature-circuit is closed. lVhen the setof contact-plates l comes into engagement with the corresponding fingers b b and a' to a( the circuits will be as indicated in Fig. 2-t'. c., each field-coil will be connected to the terminals of the corresponding batterycell or other division of a divided source of electrical energy, and the positive brush B will be electrically connected to the positive terminal of each of the divisions A', A2, the., of the divided source of electrical energy, the negative brush B' being electrically connected to the negative terminal ot each of such divisions. This arrangement causes the armature ot' the motor to move forward, as indicated by the arrow, and at a speed approximately proportional to the eleetromotive force of one division of the source of electrical energy.

Fig. 3 illustrates the circuits when the iingers are in contact with set 2 of the drumplates. In this position the field-coils are connected in the same manner as in Fig. 2. The positive brush B is electrically connected to the positive terminal of each of the three divisions A' A2 A3 of the divided source, while the negative terminals of these divisions are all electrically connected to the positive terminals of the divisions A4, A5, and A, and the negative terminals of divisions A4, A, and AG are electrically connected to the negative brush B'. This arrangement causes the armature to move in the same direction as in Fig. 2, but at a speed approximately proportional to the eleetromotive force of two of the divisions in series-that is, at about twice the speed of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4t illustrates the circuits corresponding to the engagement. of lingersl) and l1' and a' to a with the set 3 of the drum-plates. In this position the iield-coils are connected in the same manner as in Figs. 2 and 3. The positive brush B is electrically connected to the positive terminal ot each ot' the two divisions A' and A4. Division A3 is electrically connected in series with divisions A2 and A', while division A4 is electrically connected in series with divisions A5 and A". The negative terminals ot divisions A3 and AG are both electricallyconnected with the negative brush B ofthe motor. This arrangement also causes the armature to move forward, as indicated by the arrow, and at a speed approximately proportional to the eleetromotive force otthree of the divisionsin series-that is, at about three times the speed of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 illustrates the circuits corresponding to the engagement of the fingers l) and ZJ' and a' to a@ with the seti of the drum-plates. In this position the field-coils are connected in the same manner as in the preceding gures. The positive brush I3 is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the division A', the negative brush B' to the negative terminal of the division A, and all the divisions are electrically connected together in series. This arrangement canses'the armature to move forward, as indicated by the arrow, and at a speed approximately proportional to the eleetromotive force ot all the divisions A', A2, A2, A4, A5, and A in seriesv that is, at about six times the speed of thc arrangement shown iu Fig. 2.

In order to secure areverse direction otrotation by the means shown in the drawings, the controller-drum is rotated in a contraclockwise direction to the o position and then in the same direction to positions 1132, 3, and #La successively, the circuits made and rates of speed attained corresponding to those already described, except that the armaturecircuit is reversed with reference to the source of electrical energy.

Instead of employing separate sets of contact-plates on the main controller-drum for reversing the motor it will be understood that a separate reversing-switch might be elnployed, as is usual in controlling apparatus.

It is evident that all the foregoing connections between the armature andthe divisions of the source of energy may be made in succession in any desired order without at any time opening or changing the field circuit or circuits and that the number of rates of speed may be increased by increasing the number of divisions in the source of electrical energy and the number of combinations ol such divisions.

In Fig. 6 I have shown eight divisions ofa source of electrical energy (designated as A to A2) and two motors, one of which is provided with four field-coils C', C2, Cl", and C7,

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corresponding to the divisions A, A3, A5, and A?, and the other with four coils C2, C4, CG, and CS, corresponding to divisions A2, A4, A", and AS of the source of electrical energy.

The armatures B3 are shown as connected in parallel and as supplied by the divisions A to AS, connected in parallel; but it will be understood that the armatures may be connectedin series or that the two arrange ments maybe made successively for different rates of speed in a manner Well known in the art. lt will also be understood that the divisions A to AS of the source of energy may be variously grouped in multiple, multiple series,and series in the mannerlalready described in order to secure dii'erent rates of speed for the motors.

In Fig. 9 I have shown four motors CX, each of which has a single field-Windin g Cf. These iieldmfindings are respectivelysupplied with electrical energy from divisions A', A2, A3, and A of a suitable source, such source being here indicated asa secondary battery, the cells of Which are connected together in series. The armaturesBl of the motors UX are shown as connected to the source of energy in multiple through the commutator-cylinders B" and brushes B and B8; but it will be understood that they may be connected in .series or in series and multiple alternately to secure different speeds, as is well known in the art. It will also be understood that the battery-cells or other divisions of the source of electrical energy may be coupled in multiple and in multiple series, as well as in series, by any suitable means in order to vary the speed of the motorarmatures- The number of divisions A', A2, dac., and the number of motors may7 obviously be different from that illustrated.

My invention is evidently not limited as regards the apparatus employed, the speciiic number of independent divisionsin the source of electrical energy, or the arrangementof suclidivisions.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The method of operating electric motors from a divided source of electrical energy, which consists individing the iield-circuit into independent divisions or units the nurnberof which is proportional to that of the independent divisions in the source of electrical energy, supplying each field-circuit division from a corresponding division of the source of electrical energy, and supplying the armature or armatures from the combined divisions of the source of electrical energy.

2. The method of operating electric motors from a divided source of electrical energy, which consists in dividing the field-circuit into substantially equal vindependent divisions o'r units the number of which is proportional to that of the independent divisions in the source of electrical energy, supplying each field-circuit division from acorresponding division of the source of electrical energy, and

supplying the armature or armatures from the combined divisions ot the source of electrical energy.

3. The method of operating electric motors from a divided source of electrical energy which consists in dividing the field-circuit into independent divisions or units the number of which is'equal to that of the independent divisions in the source of electrical energy, supplying each field-'circuit division from a corresponding division of the source of electrical energy, and supplying the arma* ture or armatures from the combined divisions of the source of electrical energy.

fi. The method of operating electric motors from a divided source of electrical energy,

.which 'consists in dividing the held-circuit into substantially equal independent divisions or units the number of which is equal to that ot' theindependent divisions in asource of electrical energy, supplying each iield-circuit division from a correspondingdivision of the source of electrical energy, and supplying the armature or armatures from the combined divisions of the source of electrical energy.

' 5. The method of operating electric motors from a divided source oi' electrical energy,

dependent divisions in the source of electrical energy, connecting each field-circuit division to a corresponding division of the source ot'v electrical energy, subsequently connecting the armature or armatures to the combined divisions of the source of electrical energy, and maintaining such connections.

(i. Themethod of operating electricl motors from a divided source ot electrical energy, which consists in dividing the field-circuit into independent divisions or units the number of which is proportional to that of the independent divisions in the source of electrical energy, supplying each field-circuit division from a corresponding division of the source of electrical energy, and supplying the armature or armatures from the several divisions of the source of electrical energy connected in multiple.

7. The method of operating electric motors from a divided source of electrical energy, which consists in dividing -the iield-circuit into independent divisions or units the num ber of which is proportional to that of the independent divisions in the source of electrical energy, supplying each field-circuit division from a corresponding division of the source of electrical energy, and supplying the armature or armatures from the several dilvisions of the source of electrical energy connected in series.

8. The method of operatingelectric motors from a divided source of electrical energy, Which consists in dividing the iield-circuit into independent divisions orl units the number of which is proportional to that of the in- IOO IIO

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dependent divisions in the source of electrical energy, supplying each field-circuit division from a corresponding division of the source of electrical energy and supplying the armature or armatures from the several divisions of the source of electrical energy connected in multiple series.

t). The method of operating an electric motor provid ed with a plurality of independent field- \vindings which consists in supplying said windings from corresponding independent sources of electrical energy, supplying the armature circuit or circuits from said sources of energy in combination and varying the electromotive force supplied to the armature circuit or circuits by changing the relation of said sources, whereby the speed of the motor is varied.

10. The method of operating an electric motor provided with a plurality of independent field-windings which consists in supplying said windings from corresponding independent sources of electrical energy, supplying the armature circuit or circuits from said sources of energy connected in multiple for a minimum rate of speed, connecting said sources in series multiple in one or more rela` tions for one or more higher rates of speed and in series for a maximum rate of speed.

11. The method of operating a motor having a plurality of independent iield-Windings from a divided source of electrical energy which consists in rst connecting the several fieldcircuits with corresponding divisions of the source of energy, then connecting the armature circuit or circuits with the divisions of the source of energy arranged in multiple, then grouping the said divisions in multiple series for one or more electromotive forces, and finally grouping said divisions iu series, all without interrupting or changing the fieldcircuits.

12. The combination With an electric motor having a plurality of independent field-windings, of a divided source of electrical energy, each division of which supplies a corresponding field-circuit and means for connecting the combined divisions of the source of energy With the armature circuit or circuits and changing the relation of said divisions so as to vary the electroinotive force supplied to the armature.

13. The combination with an electric motor having a plurality of independent field-windings, of a divided source of electrical energy each division of which supplies a corresponding field-Winding, and a controller for grouping the several divisions of the source of cnergy in multiple, multiple series and series and for connecting the same to the armature circuit or circuits.

1l. The combination with an electric motor having a plurality of independent field-windings, of a divided source of electrical energy,

y each division of which supplies a corresponding field-winding,and a controller constructed and operating to iirst close the several fieldwindings, then to connect the divisions of the source of electrical energy to the armature circuit or circuits in multiple, then to connect said divisions with the armature circuit or circuits in multiple series and finally to connect said divisions with the armature circuit or circuits in series.

15. The combination with a plurality of electric motors having a plurality of independent eld-Windings, of a divided source ot electrical energy, means for connecting each of said field-windings to a corresponding division of the source of energy and means for connect-ing the armature-circuits to all of said divisions.

16. The combination with a plurality of electric motors each of which is provided with an independent field-Winding, of a divided source of electrical energy, means for connecting each of said held-windings to a corresponding division of the source of energy and means for connecting the armature-circuits to all of said divisions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 27th day of July, 1808.

A CHARLES JOHN REED.

Witnesses:

Janus W. LAWS, ROBT. B. FLETCHER. 

